Kamikaze Headband

[Craig Gottlieb]

I was looking for a quality reproduction for a customer of mine, and ran across these. I read the text, and NOT being an expert by any means, in Japanese militaria, I thought I would post this to the forum for comments. Is this object original, and accurately described?

http://www.militaryantiquesmuseum.co...earchfor=10836

Guy says they were used by students? Thanks in advance.

[GeorgeP]

FYI: The two main kanji on the headband say roughly: "certain victory" and are not the kamikaze kanji: 神　風. Unless "certain victory" is what you are looking for.



Tom

[Nick Komiya]

It's a post war head band with the lyrics for the Kamikaze or Yokaren song.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Thank you. I am actually looking for a REAL band, but those are hard to find!

[Jareth]

Forget about finding a "real" one. The same bands were worn by everyone from students, factory workers, patriotic citizens AND pilots. Without ironclad documention/provenance it's next to impossible to prove. Not to mention headbands surviving the attacks!

[Craig Gottlieb]

You've got a point there. I had heard the ones used by Kamikazes were hand-painted? Any good reference on these?

[kaigunfan]

Hello Craig,

The Japanese airmen who flew tokko (suicide or Kamikaze) missions did wear headbands. They were not like the ones you typically see. I believe they were hand-made and much longer. The airmen ones typically had a message on them, etc.

If you see the veteran Kaname Shimoyama pictured on the back cover of my book, that is a "real" one (not a headband worn in a factory, etc.). Shimoyama-san never had a chance to fly his mission and the war ended. So he was fortunate to survive.

My book is Beyond Pearl Harbor: The Untold Stories of Japan's Naval Airmen.

Regards,

Ron Werneth

[Der Texaner]

Would any of you happen to remember a few years ago The History Channel and eBay did a promotion in which they auctioned some "historical" items? I do remember one of them being a supposedly authentic Kamikaze headband. I had always wondered if that was a genuine piece. I'm really racking my memory, but I think it brought close to $5000.00. I could be wrong. I just found it hard to believe it was authentic. Any one remember this?

Regards,
Joel

[actionoke]

I got this with calling card of veteran who picked it up himself

[actionoke]

more pics

[Der Texaner]

If indeed true, that sure is a rarity. And, even more rare, looks like it came form the dead pilot instead of surviving due to end of war, engine trouble etc. I'm not quite sure I've heard of another although surely there are a handful.

[Jareth]

At best it looks like a seabee fake to me.